Witness the Battle of ChampionsHackensack Riverkeeper plans
outing at Medieval Times
By
Lisa Kelly
You’re invited to join Hackensack Riverkeeper at
this special outing on Sunday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m. at Medieval Times in
Lyndhurst. The event will benefit Hackensack Riverkeeper and its work to
protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River watershed. Meet Captain Bill
Sheehan and the Hackensack Riverkeeper staff at the 11th century,
European-style castle, where you’ll be greeted by King Alfonso and Princess
Esperanza who will invite you to share in a regal four-course banquet and cheer
for your own Knight of the Realm in this all-new show introduced this year. Before the show, check
out the Hall of Arms with its medieval artifacts, such as coats of arms and
weaponry. The Museum of Torture features reproductions of medieval torture
instruments. Trumpeters will herald
you into the Grand Ceremonial Arena where you will sit in the “green” section
(what else?) to cheer on one of the brave knights. Serfs and wenches will serve
dinner in true medieval, pre-silverware fashion. Elegant Andalusian
stallions will lead a spectacular display of equestrian skills and pageantry.
Then the Tournament of Games will begin, with knights on horseback competing in
games of skill, such as the ring pierce, flag toss and javelin throw. Authentic
jousting matches and dangerous sword fights round out the evening. After the
show, you can get autographs and mingle with cast members in the “Knight Club.” Tickets for this special Hackensack Riverkeeper performance are $50 for adults, and $35 for children, age 12 and under. To order tickets, please call Lisa Kelly at 201-968-0808. The concept of a “Riverkeeper” dates back to
Medieval Times The concept of a
riverkeeper - a steward protecting a water body - reaches back to Medieval
times, when Europe’s kings and feudal lords appointed loyal subjects to guard
waterways. Unfortunately, these earliest riverkeepers served royalty’s greedy
motives enforcing navigational tolls and charging common folk to fish. The Magna Carta,
signed in 1225, changed all this and reaffirmed the “liberty of navigation” and
the “free fisheries.” Today’s environmental law is built upon these principles,
as well as the Public Trust Doctrine, which first appeared in ancient Roman and
then English Common Law. The Public Trust Doctrine states that the public owns
common environments, such as the air, waters, tidelands, fisheries, shellfish
beds, etc., and they cannot be controlled or diminished by any person or group. Today,
“Keepers” are citizen-stewards for waterways, working to protect, preserve and
restore watersheds for the benefit of all citizens. Hackensack Riverkeeper
watches over the Hackensack River watershed, in which Medieval Times in
Lyndhurst is located. |
